Leaders say CityCentre at Big Spring is still very much an active project, despite a few hurdles at the downtown Huntsville property.

A rendering of the AC Hotel by Marriott along with the Wahlburgers restaurant to be built at CityCentre at Big Spring in downtown Huntsville. (Paul Gattis/pgattis@al.com)

The site of the former Holiday Inn has remained largely unchanged since Wahlburgers announced it will open a restaurant at the development during a groundbreaking ceremony in January.

Huntsville Director of Urban Development Shane Davis said there have been several items that have stalled construction, including an unexpected delay in the Corps of Engineers permit on the city's work involving Lowery Boulevard and the greenway.

"No issues with the permit, just the Corp has been back logged in permitting approvals," he said. "As for the start of the hotel, retail, food hall, and parking garage for CityCentre, there have been a couple of issues that has delayed the start."

Due to the compact size of the property, Davis said the AC by Marriott must be built first, with the remaining structures wrapping around the hotel. Davis said officials were a little too optimistic on the design schedule for the hotel, resulting in the first delay.

The new-to-Alabama hotel will feature 150 units, a bar, and rooftop deck. The facility also will have event and fitness centers, a kitchen, and a lounge with handcrafted cocktails and small plates.

"The addition of an AC Marriott to our city is a great win, as there are only a handful throughout the U.S.," Davis said. "However, each AC Marriott is customer designed, meaning no two ACs look alike, and must go through a lengthy review and approval by Marriott."

Davis said they discovered underground fiber duct banks when the contractor began digging footings for the hotel. The design for rerouting the fiber duct banks is now complete and work should begin next week on relocation.

Construction on the AC by Marriott can begin when the fiber duct banks are moved within the next two weeks. Davis said the delays have allowed the multi-family design to catch up with the hotel and retail components, so construction on housing can begin this fall.

"All components of the project are permitted and the developer has closed on all financing for the project," he said. "Although the delay has been unexpected due to the various moving parts, the project has cleared these obstacles and will soon be ready to move forward."

CityCentre will operate on Williams Avenue between Monroe Street and Lowe Avenue near the Von Braun Center and Big Spring International Park. RCP Companies, the firm developing MidCity Huntsville at the former Madison Square Mall site, is overseeing the project.

RCP Director Odie Fakhouri said the CityCentre property has horizontal construction and groundwork issues that will be solved and are the result of getting the site prepared for vertical construction.

While that is happening, he said they are securing "cool concepts that will offer a different experience downtown."

"This allows us to be selective in new tenants and decreases the amount of vacant retail spaces downtown," he said. "We will not take short cuts on such an important site in order to save a few weeks. We will continue to make the necessary adjustments to execute the project the community has asked for."